Solid-geometrical puzzle and furniture arrangements

ABSTRACT

Six similar and elongated right-parallelepiped parts are pivotally connected in sequence with one connection in the sequence being a side-to-end connection and the balance of the connections being side-to-side connections. The parts so arranged that they can be cooperatively and collectively brought into a single larger right parallelepiped configuration. During the various movements, two of the parts may have to pass through positions of interference with each other. To overcome this difficulty, provision is made for one or more of the connections to be yieldably displaceable or a portion of one or more of the parts to be removed. If the solid-geometrical configuration is to constitute a puzzle, the displaceable connection is concealed; if the configuration is to be used for furniture, the displaceable connection can be omitted along with one or more of the parts. In either case, additional parts may optionally be employed.

United States Patent 1 Secter Nov. 20, 1973 SOLID-GEOMETRICAL PUZZLE AND FURNITURE ARRANGEMENTS [76] Inventor: Michael Secter, 305 Canal St., New York, NY. 10013 22 Filed: Dec. 13, 1971 211 App]. No.: 207,429

[52] US. Cl. 273/153 R, 46/1 R, 297/118 [51] Int. Cl. A63f 9/08 [58] Field of Search 273/153 R, 155, 156;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,072 12/1965 Dreyer 273/153 R UX 2,310,711 2/1943 Savage.... 46/1 R 2,825,178 3/1958 Hawkins 46/26 2,407,367 9/1946 Geller 46/ 173 3,550,310 12/1970 Bock-Greissau... 46/1 R X 3,561,757 2/1971 Sch1l1ig 46/25 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 96,335 9/1963 Denmark 273/156 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Alan K. Roberts et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT Six similar and elongated right-parallelepiped parts are pivotally connected in sequence with one connection in the sequence being a side-to-end connection and the balance of the connections being side-to-side connections. The parts so arranged that they can be cooperatively and collectively brought into a single larger right parallelepiped configuration. During the various movements, two of the parts may have to pass through positions of interference with each other. To overcome this difficulty, provision is made for one or more of the connections to be yieldably displaceable or a 'portion of one or more of the parts to be removed. If

the solid-geometrical configuration is to constitute a puzzle, the dispiaceable connection is concealed; if the configuration is to be used for furniture, the displaceable connection can be omitted along with one or more of the parts. In either case, additional parts may optionally be employed.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEU NOV 20 1973 FIG./

SOLID-GEOMETRICAL PUZZLE AND FURNITURE ARRANGEMENTS FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to solid-geometrical forms which can be assembled as puzzles or as pieces of fumiture having variable configurations.

BACKGROUND A wide variety of geometrical puzzles are available. Many of these are commercially successful and intellectually stimulating as well as very appealing to numerous individuals whose curiosity and desire to solve problems or puzzles can be to a certain extent satisfied by currently available material.

Some of these puzzles are two dimensional such as, for example, jig-saw puzzles the interlocking parts of which can be combined to represent pictures or the like. Others are three-dimensional puzzles wherein a collection of loose parts must be assembled to form a predetermined solid-geometrical shape such as a sphere or the like.

In the majority of available puzzles, the parts are either not attached to each other or are not constrained to cooperate in a manner which involves a relatively high level of skill for assembly. Furthermore, when the parts of such puzzles are detachable from one another, these parts can be lost or misplaced whereupon the remaining parts become useless or ineffective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to avoid the above indicated disadvantages and provide an improved geometrical puzzle involving a high level of skill and one in which preferably the parts are permanently attached and cannot therefore be lost.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved puzzle in which is employed a number of parts adapted for limited physical displacement therebetween as a result of which the solution is more difiicult to determine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure constituted by a plurality of parts so connected, dimensioned and shaped that, although capable of many various movements relative to each other, they can be brought only by a few limited sequences of movements to related positions whereat they cooperatively constitute a desired solid-geometrical configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved puzzle of the above-indicated type which is both educational and capable of developing inductive logic and the like.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved sequence development construction which is readily and economically manufactured and which is engineered to appeal to a wide range of artistic and intellectual levels.

The manner in which the above objects of the invention are achieved is best understood by reference to a specific example such as, for instance, a group of parts assembled together and capable of being manipulated in such a way as to be brought into the configuration of a right parallelepiped.

In this case and in accordance with the invention, six parallelepiped parts are pivotally connected in sequence by five pivotal connections. Four of these connections hold the corresponding parts in pivotal sideto-side relationship. The fifth connection holds the corresponding two parts in a pivotal side-to-end relationship.

As will be shown in greater detail hereinbelow, the parts can be readily pivoted relative to each other to bring them cooperatively to a final preparatory position whereat one or more final manenuvers will bring about the ultimately desired composite configuration. However, as will be seen, these final maneuvers will find one of the parts in a position of interference with further movements of another part.

To avoid this interference, according to one embodiment of the invention, one pivot can be supported in an elastic seat which enables a subtle additional displacement of selected of the parts relative to each other whereby interference can be avoided. As an alternative embodiment, all pivots can be firmly seated while one or more of the parts will be provided with a cut out or rounded corner to avoid the aforesaid interference. In all cases, as will be seen, provision is made to enable achieving the ultimate desired configuration.

Generally, therefore, it can be said that the invention relates to the connecting together of a plurality of parts, identical or generally similar in shape, connected in sequence and susceptible of being maneuvered or manipulated in order to be brought collectively into a regular solid-geometrical configuration. More specifically, it should be noted that a subtle unobvious movement between certain of the parts is provided in order to enable reaching the desired end result.

In conceiving my invention l have additionally realized that the parts and movements involved are readily adapted to furniture styles. In such event, it is possible to reduce the number of parts involved and, moreover, to omit the features noted above which are incident to avoiding interference between the parts. Accordingly, it isanother object of the invention to provide a new and improved form of furniture having adjustably related parts.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be found in the following detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a puzzle or furniture form provided in accordance with the invention illustrative of a generally extended sequence of parts;

FIG. 2 illustrates the sequence of FIG. 1 after the same is brought partially to the desired final configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ultimately desired configuration for the puzzle form illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partly diagrammatic side view'of one of the parts included in the sequence of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view of another of the parts of the sequence illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a pivotal connection employed between the parts of the sequence of FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates another pivotal connection which can be employed in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section through a part which may be employed in the sequence of FIG. 1, either in substitution for a pivotal connection or in addition thereto DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference will be first made to FIG. 1 in which is shown a pivotally connected sequence of parts provided in accordance with the invention.

With reference to the puzzle form of the invention, the structure of FIG. 1 may be considered as comprising a plurality of parts with means being provided to connect these parts in sequence, such that limited relative movement is possible between the thusly connected parts, the parts being so connected, dimensioned and arranged that they can be manipulated and brought collectively into a regular solid-geometrical configuration.

For purposes of permitting ready comparison between FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each of the parts is respectively designated as part A, B, C, D, E or F. The parts are, however, additionally identified by reference characters l0, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.

Each such part is an elongated right parallelepiped connected in a continuous sequence. More particularly', part is pivotally connected to part 12 which is pivotally connected to part 14 which is pivotally connected, in turn, to part 16, the latter being pivotally 7 connected to part 18. Part 20 is pivotally connected to part 18. Thus, parts 10 and 20 are the endmost in the sequence which is an open-ended sequence.

Parts 10-20 are preferably fabricated of metal, plastic, wood, natural or synthetic rubber or the like and are preferably of such size (for the puzzle form) that they are readily manipulated in the hands of an operator. These parts are, moreover, preferably opaque so that the means pivotally connecting the same cannot be seen by the eyes of the operator.

It will be noted that all of the parts except two are connected pivotally in side-by-side relationship. The parts 12 and 14 are, however, connected in side-to-end relationship.

FIG. 4 illustrates one of the sides having provision for pivotal connection. It will be noted that this side, which represents one of the four similar sides of each right parallelpiped part, is rectangular and comprises two sides 22 and 24 and two ends 26 and 28. The ends 26 and 28 have a width W and the sides 22 and 24 have a length L which is equal'to 2W.

The illustrated side is provided with a pivot 30 diagrammatically indicated. The center of the pivot is centrally located relative to the width W and therefore is spaced from the sides 22 and 24 by a distance equal to W12. The pivot axis is moreover centrally located in the left hand of the illustrated side and is thus spaced from the end 28 by a distance equal to H2.

The end of part 12, which is provided with a pivot, is illustrated in FIG. 5. This end is of square shape and is provided with four sides 32, 34, 36 and 38, each being of a width W. The pivot 40, for this end, is diagrammatically illustrated and is provided with an axis which is centrally located in the illustrated end.

The extended sequence of FIG. 1 can be readily Reference to FIG. 2 will show that part 10 is in parallel relationship with part 12 which is, in turn, perpendicular to part 14. Part 16 is in parallel and aligned relationship with part 14, whereas part 16 is perpendicular to parts 12 and l6.- Part 20 rests atop and is parallel to but offset from part 18. I

Arrows 48 and 50 indicate how parts 18 and 20 are pivoted to bring the sequence into the desired final configuration illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, part 18 is pivoted to bring the same into parallel aligned relationship with part 16 whereas part 20 is pivoted on. part 18 after being brought to a position superposed with respect to part 12 so that parts 12 and 20 are now parallel and aligned. Finally, part 10 is pivoted relative to part 12 to bring the same into upright relationship, thereby completing the configuration illustrated as the final form in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 3, it is seen that part 10 is superposed on and rests directly atop part 12 which is perpendicular to part 14 along side of which is located part 16 in upright and parallel relationship. Part 18 is also in upright attitude parallel to part 16 and part 20 is similarly in upright relationship parallel to and aligned with part 18.

There has thus been achieved a manipulation and collective bringing of the parts into a regular solidgeometrical configuration which is symmetrical and a larger version of the configuration of the individual parts.

However, in making certain of the terminal movements noted hereinabove, at least one of the parts tends to have a position of interference with the movement of another of the parts. This can be seen, for example, by reference to FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, when an attempt is made to pivot part 18 on its pivotal connection to part 16, the end edge 52 of part 18, maintaining a constant radius to the associated pivot axis, will tend to follow a path of movement through the part 12. Since this is a physical impossibility, some accommodation has to be made to enable this pivotal movement to be effected. For this reason, one of the pivots is provided with an accommodation to avoid the aforesaid interference without requiring the detachment of any of the parts. This accommodation can be in the form of an elastic seat, which enables a subtle displacement of selected of the parts relative to each other whereby the abovenoted interference can be avoided.

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred accommodation in the form of an elastic pivot seat for the 'pivot seat for the pivotal connection between parts 14 and 16. Therein it is seen that the part 14 is provided with a seat 60 in which is cemented an elastic grommet 62 through which extends a pivot pin 64 having a head 66 trapped in the seat 60 by the grommet 62. The pin 64 has a second head 68 which is accommodated within the part 16 such as by molding or the like.

From the above description, it will be seen that the parts 14 and 16 are pivotally connected but that a slight movement between said part is possible either in the axial direction relative to pin 64 and/or the radial direction relative to said pin. This accommodation allows the aforenoted edge 52 to slide past the part 12 and move to its final position of rest so that part 18 can as sume its required position in the ultimately developed configuration.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate concealed displace- .ment which can be employed in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment of the invention, a pin 70 provided with heads 72 and 74 as in the preceding embodiment is resiliently and yieldably held in position by a helical spring 76 which is locked into a seat 78 by means of a washer 80 which is cemented in position. In this embodiment of the invention, an axial displacement relative to pin 70 is possible between the parts 14 and 16 and as well as limited transverse displacement may be possible if the washer 80 is elastic and there is a limited play of the pin 70 in its receptacle.

A further possibility is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein it is seen that the part 18 can alternatively be provided with a rounded corner 82 which by virtue of its shape will be allowed to slide past the part 12 when the part 18 is pivoted as indicated by the arrow 48 in FIG. 2. In this event, it is preferred that several or all of the parts in the sequence be provided with one or more such rounded corners in order to avoid indicating to the user which of the movements is the critical movement having an interference situation which must be avoided or overcome.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen upon close inspection that all of the movements which are necessary to arrive at the final configuration are readily possible except for the movement indicated by the arrow 48 and also except perhaps for the pivoting movement of the part into upright attitude perpendicular to and alongside the part l2.-It has been found that the provision of an elastic accommodation in the pivot between parts 14 and 16 will enable a minor displacement of the part 18 relative to the adjacent end of the part 10, whereby the pivotal movement of the part 10 into its final position of rest can be made without interference. Should, however, the parts be all manufactured to extremely fine tolerances with the pivots therebetween being extremely tight, it might additionally be necessary to provide an elastic accommodation in the pivot connection between parts 10 and 12. In this event, the elastic accommodation can be made in the manner indicated hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The invention has been hereinabove discussed in detail with reference to its puzzle form. However, it will be readily appreciated by reference to FIG. 1 that the configuration of the invention is well adapted to the provision of articles of furniture. Thus, while with respect to the puzzle form, the configuration of FIG. 1 may find the individual parts having, for example, dimensions of one-half to two inches along the ends and sides, these parts can be fabricated of foam rubber, stuffed leather, and the like, which may have dimensions, for example, of one to two feet or more along the sides and edges thereby to form seats or tables or the like.

In the event that the configuration of the invention is used in connection with articles of furniture, fewer pieces may be employed than for the puzzle and it is generally unnecessary to provide the accommodation noted hereinabove to permit the parts to be moved past one another. Thus, for example, an article of furniture may be formed by using the parts l0, l2, l4 and 16 and 18 of FIG. 1 and clearly fewer parts or a greater number of parts may be employed as desired. Preferably, however, at least one of the parts is adapted to rest on a flat surface such as a floor.

Considering the invention with respect to the puzzle form, it is seen that a structure is provided comprising a plurality of parts with means connecting the same in a sequence such that limited relative movement is possible between the thusly connected parts. It has also been shown that the parts are so connected, dimensioned and arranged that they can be manipulated and brought collectively into a regular solid-geometrical configuration which preferably is symmetrical. The parts are pivotally connected so as to be rotatable on common axes.

It has further been shown that, during manipulation to bring the parts into the final configuration, at least one of the parts tends to have a position of interference with movement another of the parts and that at least one of the plurality of parts includes accommodation provisions to avoid this interference without requiring the detachment of any of the parts.

The parts 1012, which have been shown, are at least generally similar in shape to each other and to the final configuration. However, this arrangement can be varied. Similarly, although a right parallelepiped form has been shown, other geometrical forms are clearly possible within the scope of the invention.

Further, although the invention preferably employs (with respect to the puzzle form) at least six parts, additional parts may be connected thereto. On the other hand, with respect to the furniture form, fewer than six parts may be employed and generally it will not be necessary to provide the accommodation provisions referred to hereinabove.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many variations and modifications of the structures set forth hereinabove. These modifications and variations will not depart from the scope of the invention, if defined by the following claims:

What is claimed is;

l. A structure comprising a plurality of parts, and means pivotally connecting said parts in sequence such that between the majority of adjacent of the parts in said sequence only pivotal displacement is possible, said parts being so connected, dimensioned and arranged that the same can be manipulated and brought collectively into a regular solid-geometrical configuration, said means pivotally connecting said parts so that said adjacent parts are rotatable on common axes, at

'least one of said parts during manipulation having a position of interference with movement of another of said parts, one of said plurality of parts including accommodation means to avoid said interference without requiring the detachment of any of said parts, said parts being, at least generally, right parallelpipeds, said parts each including four similar and connected rectangular sides and opposed square ends connected to said sides, two of said parts being the endmost parts in said sequence, some of the parts being maintained by the first said means in end-to-side relationship and some of said parts being maintained in side-to-side relationship in said sequence.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said parts are at least generally similar in shape to each other and to said configuration.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rectangular sides have widths equal to the widths of the square ends and lengths which are double said widths.

4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first said means are pivots and said accommodation means is a resilient seat for at least one but less than all of said but less than a majority of the pivots and allowing axial displacement of the same.

7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least six of said parts.

8. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said regular solid-geometrical configuration is a right parallelpiped. 

1. A structure comprising a plurality of parts, and means pivotally connecting said parts in sequence such that between the majority of adjacent of the parts in said sequence only pivotal displacement is possible, said parts being so connected, dimensioned and arraNged that the same can be manipulated and brought collectively into a regular solid-geometrical configuration, said means pivotally connecting said parts so that said adjacent parts are rotatable on common axes, at least one of said parts during manipulation having a position of interference with movement of another of said parts, one of said plurality of parts including accommodation means to avoid said interference without requiring the detachment of any of said parts, said parts being, at least generally, right parallelpipeds, said parts each including four similar and connected rectangular sides and opposed square ends connected to said sides, two of said parts being the endmost parts in said sequence, some of the parts being maintained by the first said means in end-to-side relationship and some of said parts being maintained in side-to-side relationship in said sequence.
 2. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said parts are at least generally similar in shape to each other and to said configuration.
 3. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rectangular sides have widths equal to the widths of the square ends and lengths which are double said widths.
 4. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first said means are pivots and said accommodation means is a resilient seat for at least one but less than all of said pivots enabling transverse displacement of the same relative to the axis thereof.
 5. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said parts includes a rounded corner constituting said accommodation means.
 6. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first said means are pivots and said accommodation means includes a resilient device associated with at least one but less than a majority of the pivots and allowing axial displacement of the same.
 7. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least six of said parts.
 8. A structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said regular solid-geometrical configuration is a right parallelpiped. 